Thanksgiving Tips: Post-Bariatric Surgery

Posted: Oct 31 in Post-Bariatric Diet by Staff

Thanksgiving can be a difficult time for anyone concerned about cutting calories and controlling their food intake. It also poses unique challenges to those who have had gastric band surgery.

Lap band surgeons in the Port Charlotte area offer a variety of tips to help gastric band patients get through Thanksgiving with a minimum of stress, enjoy the holiday and eat healthy foods that they can still enjoy.

An excellent solution is to suggest a Thanksgiving potluck in which all guests bring foods of their choosing, including traditional Thanksgiving dishes. If you’ve had weight-loss surgery, this option provides an excellent opportunity to bring healthful, delicious items that contain the nutrients you need.

By making sure the holiday menu includes appetizing, nutritious food that you enjoy, you’ll be less tempted to indulge in less healthy options.

Still, you’ll need to come prepared to say no to relatives and others who may urge you to try “just a sliver” of their coveted sugar cream pie or “just a little” of their rich sweet potato casserole. Come knowing what you can eat and what you can’t, and stick to it.

Instead of approaching Thanksgiving as a time to eat, think of it as an opportunity to see your family. Instead of concentrating on all of the options at the table, fill your plate with lots of vegetables and other nutritious goodies and concentrate on catching up with friends and family members that you haven’t seen in a year! Don’t torture yourself by finding a seat at the desert table. Instead, invite a good friend to go for a post-dinner walk with you and skip the temptation all together.

As an alternative to the traditional Thanksgiving celebration, you could volunteer at a food kitchen to serve those in need—as a way to share with others and express your gratitude for all the blessings in your life, including the strides you are making to better health.